A women's rights group has condemned the BBCfor nominating a Zambian footballerfor its Women's Footballer of the Year prize - two years after the player was ruled out of an international tournament over high testosterone levels.
The Women's Rights Network (WRN) has accused the broadcaster of bringing female sport into 'disrepute' after Barbra Banda was included on a five-player shortlist.
Banda, 24, was left out of Zambia's squad for the Women's African Cup of Nations in 2022 with reports at the time claiming she had failed a gender test.
It later emerged she was not tested by tournament organisers but she was omitted pre-emptively when team bosses became aware her testosterone levels exceeded those permitted by the Confederation of African Football.
The former professional boxer, who was registered female at birth, according to the Associated Press, was claimed to have refused to take suppressants to lower her levels out of concerns about potential side effects.
Women's Rights Network (WRN) has accused the BBC of bringing female sport into 'disrepute' after Zambian footballer Barbra Banda was included on the shortlist for Women's Footballer of the Year
Banda, 24, was left out of Zambia's squad for the Women's African Cup of Nations in 2022 with reports at the time claiming she had failed a gender test
An investigation last year by the Telegraphsaid there was no suggestion that Banda's testosterone levels were 'anything but naturally occurring'.
Her agent Anton Maksimov previously said it was not true that she had failed a gender test and that she was removedbased on an 'evaluation of her physical conditions'.
He said in a statement at the time of the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations: 'As her official representative, I can state that Barbra has not been banned or suspended from participating in the current WAFCON by CAF, FAZ, FIFA, or any other governing body.
'She has not undergone and consequently has not failed any "gender verification" or "gender eligibility tests" administered prior to the tournament. Barbra is also perfectly healthy and fit.
'The decision not to currently feature Barbra at the tournament is FAZ’s internal decision based on their own evaluation of her physical conditions before coming to Morocco.
'I reiterate that nothing, no existing regulations that we are aware of, prevents Barbra's participation in the WAFCON 2022. Barbra has not failed any medical tests in this regard either.'
Yet there has been criticism of the recently announced decision to nominate her for the BBC award.
The WRN campaign group posted a furious statement last night on X, formerly Twitter, saying: 'Yet again, women's sport is being brought into disrepute (and women footballers put at risk of serious injury) by weak governing bodies that refuse to stand up for fairness and safety for females.
'If female footballers fail "gender eligibility" this raises inevitable questions over their sex.'
Round the world sailor Tracy Edwards also questioned why Banda was shortlisted as she wrote on X: 'Barbra Banda FAILED a "gender eligibility test" but is now shortlisted for the "BBC Women's Footballer of the Year". @BBCSport Care to comment?!!!!'
Banda (left) represented Zambia at Paris 2024 where she scored a hat-trick against Australia and became Africa's all time top score in Olympic football history with 10 goals.
Banda signed a four-year contract with the Orlando Pride in March where she will earn around $2million
Former Team GB Olympian Sharron Davies also waded in on the row as she reposted Edwards' message to her 254,000 followers on X.
And in response to a fellow X user who posted 'Suggestion from @BBCSport that you choose a male player as women’s footballer of the year', Davies replied: 'Never fail to disappoint.'
Banda represented Zambia at Paris 2024 where she scored a hat-trick against Australia and became Africa's all-time top scorer in Olympic football history with 10 goals.
She became the second most expensive women's footballer in history when in March US side Orlando Pride signed the international for $740,000 (£565,000).
With a contract worth about $500,000 (£382,000) per year, Banda is one of the highest paid players in the NWSL.
When Orlando Pride announced her signing, the club's sporting directorHaley Carter described Banda as 'a natural-born goal scorer and one of the most physically imposing forwards in the world'.
Banda herself has said in a BBC promotional video ahead for the award: 'I want to be the greatest footballer in the world every one can read about me and say, "Okay, we had Barbra Banda".
'Putting on my Zambian shirt is very important for me. We qualified for the Olympicsand I managed to score another hat-trick. It was a great moment for me.'
Banda spoke to The Athletic in March ahead of her big money move to Orlando Pride where she hinted about the difficulties she had faced in her career.
'Honestly, it has not been easy for me to reach this stage, but I think the effort and the determination has really worked for me, and I always pray to God to achieve more,' she said.
Former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies has said the BBC 'never fail to disappoint' as she joined the online criticism of Barbra Banda being nominated for this latest award
Barbra Banda commented on X, formerly Twitter, that she was 'excited' to be nominated for the prize but there has also been online criticism of her inclusion on the shortlist
Last month she was named among the nominees for the Women’s Ballon d’Or award for best player of the year, with the winner to be announced at a ceremony co-organised by European football's governing body Uefa on October 28.
MailOnline has contacted the BBC for comment. The corporation said on its website that the nominees were chosen by 'a panel of experts, including coaches, players, administrators and journalists'.
The other contenders for the BBC prize are Spain's Aitana Bonmati,Naomi Girma and Sophia Smith of the USA and Norway'sCaroline Graham Hansen.
Banda's agentAnton Maksimov today said: 'Our team do not wish to comment on unfounded allegations.'
